Tectonic Hazards in Contrasting Areas Flashcards

All 4 cards in this deck

Why do the effects of a tectonic hazard tend to be worse in a poorer country?

It is less able to predict, protect against and prepare for the hazard, and recovery is slower.

Give one way responses to an earthquake differ between a wealthier and a poorer area.

Poorer areas rely more on international aid and take far longer to rehouse residents, while wealthier areas fund rapid rescue and rebuilding themselves.

Besides wealth, name one factor that can explain why one earthquake causes far more damage than another.

Magnitude – a much stronger earthquake releases far more energy. (Also: depth of the focus, population density, time of day.)

True or false? Only poorer countries suffer serious effects from tectonic hazards.

False. Tectonic hazards do not discriminate by wealth; richer countries also suffer deaths and damage, but usually recover more quickly.